By 2025, after eating all of the Oreo cookies in your house, it will be easier to destroy the evidence of a late-night binge because you will be able to recycle everything that is left of the package. Mondelēz International announced it plans to make all of its packaging recyclable by 2025. The company owns Oreo, Ritz, belVita, Cadbury, Tang, Honey Maid and other products.

Mondelēz International’s goal is to achieve “zero-net waste packaging,” and it plans to make multiple changes to reach this objective. First, by 2020, the company will make all of its paper-based packaging sustainably sourced, and it will reduce 65 million kg of packaging material. Second, by 2025, Mondelēz plans to use recyclable materials for all of its packaging, and it will provide information to consumers about how to recycle. The company also plans to support global initiatives and partnerships to reduce waste.

Educating consumers about how to recycle is an important part of the mission. A recent survey found that 66% of Americans would be willing to recycle plastic if it was convenient and easy. By making all of its packaging recyclable, Mondelēz eliminates confusion for consumers. In addition, the same survey found that 81% of Americans would like brands to provide a recycling guide on products, so it is easier to do. Mondelēz International’s decision to include recycling information on packaging solves this problem.

In this photo, products from the Mondelez International family of brands, clockwise from left, belVita biscuits, Honey Maid graham crackers, LU biscuits, a Milka chocolate bar, and a Cadbury chocolate bar rest together, in Walpole, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Rob Hargrove, Executive Vice President, Research, Development, Quality and Innovation, explained, “Plastic waste and its impact on the planet is a broad, systemic issue that our consumers care deeply about, and which requires a holistic response. Together with partners from across the industry, as well as public and private entities, we can help to develop practical solutions that result in a positive environmental impact.”

For several years, As You Sow, which is a nonprofit shareholder advocacy group, tried to convince Mondelēz International to switch to recyclable packaging, and it was finally successful. The nonprofit group pointed out that the company’s multi-laminate plastic pouches could not be recycled and often ended up in waterways.

As You Sow’s shareholder’s resolution for Mondelēz International mentioned, “Our iconic brands like Oreo and Chips Ahoy are increasingly packaged in flexible film or other plastic packaging, such as pouches, that are not recyclable. A September 2017 cleanup of plastic waste in Manila Bay found pouches from our product Tang to be among the most frequently found waste packaging. Using non-recyclable packaging when recyclable alternatives are available wastes valuable resources and contributes to plastic pollution. Only 14% of plastic packaging is recycled. Billions of discarded plastic wrappers and pouches representing significant amounts of embedded energy are incinerated or lie buried in landfills. These products could be sold in recyclable packaging.”

During a May 2018 vote, 31% of Mondelēz shareholders voted yes for As You Sow’s resolution. The company went on to set a timeline for switching to recyclable materials and recently announced its goals for 2025. Mondelēz became the fifth major company that has listened to and adopted As You Sow’s requests for recyclable packaging. It joins Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, Unilever and Kraft Heinz.

This is a positive move for Mondelēz International as more consumers demand recyclable packaging from brands. The company has already started to make changes, such as making the packaging for Oreo cookies 23% thinner.